1. identifies moral norms for the group2. legitimates moral norms3. motivates people to follow moral norms4. Criticizes some moral norms in the name of a higher morality

Divine command theory

morality is whatever what god says- word of god

opposing view points on divine command

1. is it moral because a god commanded it?2. Or does god command it because its moral

Kant

intelligence + choice= morality

Reciprocity

Confucian virtue. Like the golden rule, treat others the way you want to be treated. Morality is dependent on education. Need to cultivate Ren (human nature at its best)

shu-reciprocity

What you do not desire, do not do for others

zhong

doing your best for others

Duty based ethics

our primary responsibility to do our duty, obey commands of our god- more common in western religions

Virtue based ethics

We need to follow models of virtue, ppl who are ideal moral characters-more common in western religions

Natural law theory

Thomas Aquinas, 13th century- to know what is moral, ask "is it natural?"

Socrates

Doing wrong harms that part of ourselves that is improved by just action- an unhealthy or weak moral character lacks two traits moral vision and strength of will

Moral vision

to see right and wrong

Strength of will

full power to act the way we choose

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St. Augustine

The "wages of sin"- Sin contains its own punishment in terms of who we become. We develop two traits: ignorance and difficulty

Ignorance

our minds don't work the way they should, we are how defending what is false through it were true

Difficulty

We lose control of our own lives, we're being led by our desires

Ahimsa

do no harm

Hauser and singer study

Study that explored the idea that the only source of morality comes from belief in God.

Problems with hauser and singer study

- No moral principles shared by all religious people but not by atheists or agnostics- Atheists and agnostics do not behave less morally- All religions share the same moral principles

Study and Findings

1. the people testes where given a set of ethical dilemmas2. No diff. between those with or without a belief in god.3. No difference among religions4. No one could say why they knew what the right thing to do was

Three elements of religious morality (Ronald Green)

1. A method of reasoning involving the moral point of view2. A set of beliefs affirming the reality of moral retribution3. A way of overcoming moral paralysis despair

Scripture

Writing that is accepted and used in a religious community as especially sacred and authoritative

Variations in scripture

1. Scriptures do not have to take fixed literary form2. Scriptures vary in numbers3. Scriptures vary in function

Muller: 19th Century

Study of religion should use texts as the primary focus of study of the worlds religions

Three historical stages of studying religious scripture

First stage: mid 19th century2nd: late 19th century3rd: currently

First stage: mid 19th century

Primary focus on textstranslations of texts all world religionsno attention to historical context or practice

second stage: late 19th century

Study religion using historical and social scientific methodsvery little focus on texts

Third stage: Currently

Rediscovering value of textsone facet among many used in studying religionmust know not just text, but how it contributed to total life of religion

as an art form- literary form, style- use of metaphors, parable, song, etc.

Hermeneutics

recovering original meaning, intent of author- what is actual meaning- not always straight forward and literal

As pop culture

religious texts expressed in a variety of forms of pop culture- ex jewish christian bibles presented in plays, film, music

translating text

how much does translating a text change the meaningsome of original meaning is lost or distortedtranslations inevitable cannot be free of bias, sometimes distort meaning. Ex: nice and virgin

Authorship

behind each text is the person or persons who wrote or dictated the wordsauthor may or may not be knownmay be attributed to someone other than actual author

Responses: reader response theory

How readers interact with a textfocus on reader rather than author as source of meaningcultural context of reader

Four problems addressed by world religions

Egoism- putting yourself firstjustice and human rightsstatus- how to treat the poor and dis empoweredlife as more than just a matter of survival

Andropocentrism

only humans have ethical value

Instrumentalism

the natural world exists solely to meet human needs

New interpretation

Stewardship: to take care of the earth to serve and protect

Judaism

first organized religious environmental effortprotecting the environment is value emphasized in Torah

Mitzvah

a good deed

Christianity

There's a moral imperative on those of use who emit more than our fair share of carbon to rein in our consumption-give up carbon for lint

Catholic Christianity

A a Vatican conference on climate change, Pope Benedict urged bishops, scientists and politicians to respect creation while focusing on the needs of sustainable development

Protestant Christian

The green bible

Islam

The Islamic approach requires us to adopt a holistic lifestyle and take seriously our role as khalifa (guardian ) of earth- over 750 versus in Qur'an interpreted as saying that Muslims are to be good stewards of the earth

Hinduism

- Chipko movement- named for the practice of hugging trees

Buddhism

Northern Buddhist conference on ecology and developmentplanting trees

ARC

-Alliance of religions and conservation-helps major religions of the world to develop their own environmental programs based on their own core teachings-prince phillip in 1955

Shinto

Sustainable management of sacred forests- in 2007 Linja Honto in Japan developed a set of religious management standards for scared forest in Japan

Sikhism

EcoSikh Movement- March 24th of Sikh env. day- To remodel gurawas (gateway to the Guru)-Use recycled materials, local wood, energy efficient kitchens for massive feast prepared for festivals such as new year

Interfaith Power and Light

a state based interfaith org

Mission: to be faithful stewards of creation through promotion of energy conservation

Founded by episcopal priest, The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham

Now made up of reps from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and more

Civil Disobedience

Refusing to obey a law b/c you believe the law is unjustHenry David Thoreau, 1849

Henry David Thoreau

-Transcendentalist Unitarian Author-Refused to pay taxes as an act of protest against slavery and the Mexican American war

Criteria for Civil Disobedience

1. action has to be deliberate and for the greater good2. Action must be non violent3. Must be willing to accept consequences

Ghandi

-Hindu leader-based his philosophy on the teachings of Hinduism, Jesus, and Henry David Thoreau

MLK

Southern Baptist, read Ghandi and Thoreau during seminaryapplied teachings to his work for civil rightsGospel of freedom "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

-began in roman catholic church-Interprets christian theology as a force for social change, helping the poor and oppressed, not just evangelism- controversial within catholicism

Judaism

-Tikkum olam: to repair the world- social action and pursuit of social justice

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